Synthetic wombs: Recreating the womb

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• February 21, 2022

Insight summary

Synthetic wombs, a development in reproductive science, aim to mimic the natural womb, offering an optimized environment for fetal development. Successful experiments with lambs have sparked hope for the technology's potential use in supporting premature babies, and its anticipated wider adoption could redefine societal norms around family structures and gender roles. However, this technology also presents challenges, including the need for new regulations, potential shifts in labor markets, and ethical considerations around access and misuse.

Synthetic wombs context

Synthetic wombs are an ectogenic development in reproductive science that will permit gestation to be achieved outside the human body. Artificial wombs are designed to be nearly identical to the natural womb and may eventually replace it. Scientists expect future prototypes to be a more sophisticated version of an incubator with an optimized environment to support a fetus' development and support medical procedures like surgery. The difference would be that while incubators are filled with air, synthetic wombs will contain synthetic fluids to imitate the natural environment of a female uterus. 

Scientists in 2017, successfully conducted artificial womb experiments with lambs. These premature lambs stayed in biobags to complete their gestation. They developed adequately in the biobags and, upon full gestation, became healthy sheep just like their naturally born kin.

These early results imply that in future decades, severely premature babies could possibly complete their physical gestation in synthetic wombs and go on to live healthy lives. In 2019, researchers in the Netherlands received funding to develop such prototypes for human premature babies. These researchers revealed in an interview by BBC that this may become a reality by the 2030s. 

Disruptive impact 

The technology could offer new reproductive options for individuals, create new markets for businesses, and require new regulations and social policies for governments. As with any significant technological development, the path forward will likely be marked by both opportunities and challenges.

For businesses, the development of synthetic wombs could open up new markets and opportunities. Companies specializing in medical technology could potentially expand their product offerings to include synthetic wombs. This would require a significant investment in research and development, as well as in manufacturing and distribution. Additionally, healthcare providers could offer new services related to the use of synthetic wombs, such as implantation procedures, prenatal care, and postnatal care.

The societal implications of synthetic wombs are vast and complex. For instance, the technology could redefine our understanding of family structures and gender roles. If anyone could have a child without the need for a biological mother, traditional notions of parenthood could be challenged. This could lead to a shift in societal norms and expectations, with potential impacts on everything, from family law to social services.

Implications of synthetic wombs

Wider implications of synthetic wombs may include:

• Increased population growth rates in the developed world by enabling older couples and individuals with greater fertility options. 


• Using synthetic wombs to birth once extinct animals back into existence at a large scale, potentially rebalancing natural habitats. 


• Complimentary advancements in the development of humans with superhuman physical and mental abilities.


• Political debates and policy changes around reproductive rights, leading to more inclusive and comprehensive legislation.


• Advancements in related fields of technology, such as genetic engineering and prenatal care, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in medical science.


• Demand for new types of healthcare professionals trained in the use and maintenance of this technology.


• Ethical concerns regarding access to this technology and the potential to be misused by governments to create a new subgroup of humans for various purposes.

Questions to consider

• Considering the history of innovations like IVF, how much resistance do you think synthetic womb technology may face once it becomes safely available to the public? 


• How might synthetic wombs impact the perceived role of women in different societies around the world?